Methods and compositions for desulfurization of compositions

Abstract

Methods and compositions useful for reducing the amount of sulfur in a composition comprising sulfur, including methods and compositions comprising the use of an oxidation agent and a oxidation catalyst, wherein the oxidation catalyst can have the formula M 1 1-x M 3 x M 2 O 3 .

1 . A method of reducing the amount of sulfur in a composition comprising sulphur, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a composition comprising sulfur; and   b. contacting the composition comprising sulfur with an oxidation agent and an oxidation catalyst, wherein the oxidation catalyst has the formula M 1   1-x M 3   x M 2 O 3 , wherein M 1  is a rare-earth element, wherein M 2  is a transition metal, wherein M 3  is Ca or Sr, and wherein x is from 0.01 to 0.80, thereby reducing the amount of sulfur in the composition comprising sulfur.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprising sulfur comprises petroleum. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprising sulfur is petroleum. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidation agent comprises H 2 O 2 , NO 2 , N 2 O 3 , N 2 O 4 , acetic acid, tert-butyl hydrogen phosphate (TBHP), formic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, O 2 , air, or ozone, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidation agent comprises H 2 O 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rare-earth element comprises La, Pr, Gd, Sm, Nd, or Ce. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rare-earth element is La. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transition metal comprises Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, Mo, or Cu. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transition metal is Fe. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein M 3  is Sr. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein x is from 0.10 to 0.50. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein x is from 0.10 to 0.30. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method reduces the amount of sulfur in the composition by at least 40%. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidation catalyst is in a nano-crystalline form. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the oxidation catalyst has a size from 5 nm to 100 nm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contacting occurs at a temperature from 20° C. to 150° C. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of oxidizing agent is from 5% to 300% volume per volume of the composition comprising sulfur. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidation catalyst is impregnated with a solution comprising sulfuric acid. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the oxidation catalyst is a nano-crystalline form of M 1   1-x Sr x M 2 O 3  of a sulfuric acid salt. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidation catalyst is present in an organic solvent. 
     
     
         21 . A composition comprising an oxidation agent and an oxidation catalyst, wherein the oxidation catalyst has the formula M 1   1-x Sr x M 2 O 3 , wherein M 1  is a rare-earth element, wherein M 2  is a transition metal element, and wherein x is from 0.01 to 0.80. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method reduces the amount of sulfur in the composition by at least 60%. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method reduces the amount of sulfur in the composition by at least 80%. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method reduces the amount of sulfur in the composition by at least 95%.